Rights and Entitlements Easy Read booklet This booklet is about your Rights and Entitlements. It tells you: What will happen to you after you have been arrested. The rights you have and the help people can give you. Developed by - version 2 - November 2018
Contents Pages 3 to 4 Some rights you have in Police custody Pages 5 to 8 Being booked into Police custody Pages 9 to 10 Pages 11 to 14 Pages 15 to 18 Your Rights and Entitlements Having a solicitor Appropriate Adults Pages 19 to 22 Spending time in a Police cell Pages 23 to 24 Pages 25 to 28 Pages 29 to 30 Pages 31 to 32 Pages 33 to 34 Pages 35 to 38 Pages 39 to 40 Pages 41 to 42 Pages 43 to 44 Medical help Language interpreter Sign language interpreter Telling someone where you are Contacting your Embassy Being interviewed by the Police Seeing your custody record Being charged, bailed and released Making a complaint Page 2
Some rights you have in Police custody. You have the right to talk to a solicitor. A solicitor understands the law and can give you advice. See page 11 for more information. You have the right to medical care. Tell the Police if you are hurt or feeling ill. See page 23 for more information. You have the right to an interpreter who will explain things in your own language. See page 25 - language interpreters. See page 29 - sign language interpreters. Page 3
You will be given food and drink. You can have breakfast, lunch and dinner. See page 20 for more information. You can ask the Police to tell someone where you are. You may be allowed to speak to someone on the phone. See page 31 for more information. Some people can have an Appropriate Adult. An Appropriate Adult gives vulnerable people extra help. See page 15 for more information. If you are aged under 18 or are over 18 and find it difficult to talk about or understand what is happening, the Police will always find you an Appropriate Adult. Page 4
You will be booked into Police custody. Being kept at the Police station is called being detained. Why? You can ask why you have been arrested and detained. Replaced by photo of person using intercom The Police must tell you what you have been arrested for and why they need to keep you at the Police station. You and your solicitor will be allowed to see information about why you have been arrested and detained. Page 5
The Police will take some things from you. These will usually be returned to you when you leave custody or at the end of the investigation. Things like your phone, money and jewellery will be put in a bag and kept safe. You may have to take your shoes off. The Police will give you other shoes to wear. You may have to take your belt or other clothing off and give it to the Police. If the Police take your clothes they will give you other clothes to wear. Page 6
Things the Police will do The Police will measure how tall you are. The Police will take a photograph of you. The Police will take a sample of your DNA. They will take some saliva from inside your mouth using a stick. This does not hurt. The Police will scan your fingerprints using a special machine. If you have an Appropriate Adult, they will be with you when your DNA is taken and your fingerprints scanned. Page 7
How long you can be kept in custody Usually the Police can detain you for up to 24 hours (1 day) without charging you with a crime. This gives the Police time to investigate the alleged crime. 7.00pm 7.00pm When you first come into custody the Police may not know how long you will be detained for. Most people are only kept in Police custody for a few hours. The Police will let you go home as soon as they can. A senior Police officer or a court has to agree for you to be detained longer than 24 hours. Page 8
Your Rights and Entitlements in Police custody. The Police will give you a leaflet about how they should treat you and look after you. Rights and Entitlements are: how the law says you must be treated in Police custody, and things you can have while in Police custody. Replaced by photo of person using intercom Page 9
Rights and Entitlements Understanding your Rights and Entitlements. The Police must give you time to read the Rights and Entitlements leaflet. The Police will help you to understand the Rights and Entitlements leaflet. This booklet can also help you understand your Rights and Entitlements. You can ask to read the Codes of Practice. This is a book that explains your Rights and Entitlements in a lot of detail. Page 10
You have the right to talk to a solicitor. A solicitor understands the law. They can give you advice and help you if the Police interview you. Page 11
A solicitor can give you advice The Police must ask you if you want a solicitor. The solicitor will usually talk to you on the phone. The Police will not think you have done anything wrong because you want to talk to a solicitor. If the Police want to interview you the solicitor will usually come to the Police station. The solicitor will talk to you before the interview. Before you are interviewed, you and your solicitor must be given some information about the offence, and the evidence the Police have. Page 12
Tell the Police if you want to talk to a solicitor. X You do not have to pay to talk to a solicitor. You can ask to talk to a solicitor during the day or at night.? Do you want to talk to a solicitor? P X Page 13
Talking to a solicitor Some rules about talking to a solicitor. P You can talk to the solicitor in private before the Police interview you. X The Police are not usually allowed to interview you until you have talked to the solicitor. P The solicitor will usually be with you when you are interviewed by the Police. P If you said you didn t want a solicitor you can change your mind. You can say that you do want a solicitor. Page 14
Some people can have an Appropriate Adult. An Appropriate Adult gives extra help to people who are vulnerable. If you are aged under 18 or are over 18 and find it difficult to talk about or understand what is happening, the Police will always find you an Appropriate Adult. Replaced by photo of person using intercom Page 15
The Appropriate Adult will help you to understand what is happening. Appropriate Adults do not work for the Police. Their job is to help you. They could be a relative, volunteer or a social worker. They will make sure you understand why you have been arrested. They will be with you when the Police talk to you about your rights. They will explain your rights to you. Page 16
The Appropriate Adult will make sure you are treated fairly. An Appropriate Adult will support you. They will be with you when the Police do things like take your, photo, DNA and fingerprints. They can ask for a solicitor for you if they think you need one. They will be with you if the Police interview you about the crime. They will help you if the Police ask you to sign any papers. Page 17
Letters, numbers and clocks. This page may be useful for an Appropriate Adult to use when communicating with the person they are supporting. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Page 18
You may have to spend time in a Police Your cell should be clean and warm. Your cell should have a light. cell. Replaced by photo of person using intercom Page 19
The Police will help you to stay well. You can rest and sleep in your cell. The Police will give you a blanket. You will be given drinks. You will be given food. You can have breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can ask for something to read. Independent Custody Visitors sometimes visit you in your cell to check you are being looked after properly. Page 20
The Police will help to keep you safe. They will check to make sure you are okay while you are in your cell. Press the button in your cell to tell the Police if you need help or feel unwell. They will come to your cell and ask you what you need. After 6 hours a senior Police officer will decide if you should still be detained. You or your solicitor can talk to the senior officer about this. A senior officer will talk to you again later if you are still being detained. Page 21
Other things you can ask for You can ask the Police for these things. You are allowed out of your cell to have some fresh air and exercise. You can ask for a pen and paper. You are allowed things you need to help you practice your religion. Tell the Police if you need the toilet or want a shower. Some cells will have a toilet in them. Page 22
You can have medical help If you are hurt or ill the Police will call a nurse or doctor to help you. if you need it.read Tell the Police if you have medication you need to take. only Replaced by photo of person using intercom Page 23
Tell the Police if you need medical help. X You do not have to pay for medical help. You can ask the Police for medical help during the day or at night.? Do you need medical help? P X Page 24
Use these pages to tell the Police if you need an interpreter who speaks your first language. Replaced by photo of person using intercom The Police will find out what language you speak. LANGUAGE IDENTIFICATION Albanian English Translation: Point to your language. An interpreter will be called. Kurdish Arabic Lithuanian Bengali Mandarin Cantonese Polish Croatian Portuguese Czech Punjabi Farsi Romanian French Russian German Somali Greek Spanish Gujarati Swahili Hindi Turkish 2006 Language Line Services Italian Japanese Korean The Police will get a language interpreter if you need one. Ukrainian Urdu Vietnamese Language Line Services Enquiries: 0800 169 2879 www.languageline.co.uk Page 25
Language interpreter A language interpreter will speak your first language.? You can have a language interpreter if you do not speak or understand English. LANGUAGE IDENTIFICATION Albanian Arabic Bengali Cantonese English Translation: Point to your language. An interpreter will be called. Kurdish Lithuanian Mandarin Polish The Police have a leaflet to help you say what language you speak. Croatian Portuguese Czech Punjabi The Police will find someone who speaks your first language. They will help you to talk to the Police. Record The interpreter may also translate some important written information into your first language. Page 26
Tell the Police if you need a language interpreter. X You do not have to pay for a language interpreter. You can ask for an interpreter during the day or at night.? Do you need a language interpreter? P X Page 27
This map may be a useful aid to help people to point out their country of origin. Page 28
The Police will get a sign language interpreter if you need one. Use these pages to tell the Police if you need an sign language interpreter. If you use sign language the Police will film any interview they have with you. Replaced by photo of person using intercom Page 29
Tell the Police if you need a sign language interpreter. X You do not have to pay for a sign language interpreter. You can ask for a sign language interpreter during the day or at night.? Do you need a sign language interpreter? P X Page 30
You can ask the Police to tell someone where you are. The Police may not be able to contact someone straight away if they are still investigating the crime. You may be allowed to speak to someone on the phone. Page 31
Tell the Police if you want them to contact someone. X You do not have to pay for the Police to contact someone. You can ask the Police to contact someone you know during the day or at night.? Do you want the Police to contact someone, like a relative, for you? P X Page 32
If you are not British the Police can contact your Embassy. Tell the Police if you want your Embassy or Consulate to be told where you are. Page 33
The Police will phone your embassy for you. X You do not have to pay to contact your Embassy. You can tell us if you are seeking political asylum from your country.? Do you want the Police to tell your embassy or consulate where you are? P X Page 34
The Police may want to interview you about the crime. You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to say anything when the Police interview you. Your solicitor can give you advice. Page 35
It may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something you later rely on in court. The photo story below explains this difficult sentence. This photostory is an example of how not talking to the Police could harm your defence in court. 1 2 John chose not to tell the Police where he was when the crime happened. When he went to court John said where he was when the crime happened.? 3 4 The magistrates wondered why he hadn t told the Police where he was. The magistrates thought John might not be telling the truth in court. Page 36
Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Your solicitor can give you advice about talking to the Police. I will answer You can choose to answer the questions the Police ask you. The Police will record their interview with you using a machine like this. If your case goes to court the Police will read out what you told them as evidence. P X This will help the court decide if you are guilty of the crime or not. Page 37
Police interviews Some rules about Police interviews. The interview room must be warm, clean and have a light on. P You must be allowed to sit down when you are being interviewed. P Sergeant Andy Jones The Police officers usually have to tell you their name and their rank. For example Sergeant Andy Jones. P X You will have a break at meal times. You will also have a drinks break after two hours. Page 38
You have the right to see your custody record. Your custody record is the notes the Police write about you at the Police station. Your custody record is kept on computer at the Police station. Page 39
Your custody record You can look at your custody record on computer. Your solicitor and your appropriate adult can ask to see your custody record. Your custody record will say why you were arrested and detained at the Police station. Your custody record will have notes about everything that happens to you at the Police station. Record You can ask for a copy of your custody record up to 12 months after you leave the Police station. The Police will post it to you. Page 40
If the Police have enough evidence they may charge you with a crime. If you are charged with a crime you will need to be seen in court. This may be done via a video link from the Police station. Some people are taken to court from the Police station. Some people are released from custody. Some people are released on bail. They have to come back to the Police station, or go to court another day Some people are released under investigation. They may not have to come back to the Police station but could be sent a letter to go to court on another day. Some people are released without being charged. Page 41
The Police evidence If you are charged with a crime you can see the Police evidence before you go to court. Statement Evidence can include things like statements from witnesses, fingerprints, medical evidence and CCTV film. You and your solicitor will be able to see the evidence the Police have about the crime. If you have to go to court you can ask your solicitor to go with you. Page 42
How to make a complaint about your treatment. You can complain if you feel the Police have treated you badly or unfairly. Complaint You or your solicitor can ask to speak to a Police Inspector, or a Police officer of a higher rank. Page 43
You can also make a complaint after you have been released from custody. You can go to any Police station and make a complaint. You can complain to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). You can ask your solicitor to make a complaint for you. X You can contact your local MP to make a complaint. Copyright 2018 the strategic alliance of the Police and Crime Commissioners of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. Page 44